Device for storing line

ABSTRACT

A toroidal shaped reel having an inner handle, and a winding mechanism adapted to readily accommodate the reel and thereby provide means for directly winding a marine line on the reel by hand or by means of the winding mechanism.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,838,830 Pettit Oct. 1, 1974 [5 DEVICE FOR STORING LINE 2,250,281 7/1941 Sundstrand 242 96 I 2,508,809 5/1950 Allen 242/96 [76] Inventor- Pelt, 4m Devon 2,805,290 9/1957 Wentsel 242/96 x Huntsvllle, 35802 3,388,876 6/1968 Wilson 242/96 p 19, 3,653,085 4/1972 ROVIIBI 9/9 [2]] App]. ,408 Primary Examiner-J0hn W. Huckert Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy [52] US. Cl. 242/96 151 int. c1 B65h 75/40 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 242/96, 84.8, 86.5 A, 84.41, A toroidal shaped reel having an inner handle, and a 242/84.43; 9/9 winding mechanism adapted to readily accommodate the reel and thereby provide means for directly wind- [56] References Cited ing a marine line on the reel by hand or by means of UNITED STATES PATENTS the Winding mechanism- 1,543,489 6 1925 Wilson 242 96 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures FATENTED 1974 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to reel type devices and particularly to such a device adapted to store cord, rope or various types of line.

2. General Description of the Prior Art The typical pleasure craft has a number of lines aboard such as tie-up lines, anchor lines, ski lines, etc. The lines are not of such size nor are they loaded to the extent that they need be operated by and stored on a winch. At the same time, their storage creates some thing of a problem in attempting to keep lines in order, keep them from loosely lying on the deck wherein they may become tangled, caught in other objects and worse, caught around the limb of an occupant. In the past, the general solution has been to simply wind a line around some convenient object such as an elongated board, around ones arm, or around one of the cleats attached to the craft. There are several difficulties with doing it in either of these ways. For one thing, it is often not convenient. Second, if a line is not fully accommodated or secured there results an unsatisfactory winding of lines or storage of lines, or both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved device for the storage, winding and unwinding of line, which is both convenient to use and safe to handle.

In accordance with the invention a line handling device is basically constructed of a toroidal member having a peripheral opening to accept line. A handle extends between diametrically opposite sides of the toroidal member and there is provided one or more air tight cavities which enable flotation of the device in the event that it should fall overboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a detail of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reel is constructed of two generally annular shaped members 12 and 14 which are joined together, as by an adhesive, to form a line holding receptacle 15. A handle 16 for reel 10 is formed of two identical half cylindrical members 18 extending between diametrically opposed regions of annular shaped members 12 and 14. Thus, when the reel is assembled, there are joining surfaces at circular edges 20 and linear edges 22 and 24 which provide surfaces which can be conveniently bonded together. Reel 10 is typically molded of a plastic material such as styrene. Such material does have a specific gravity greater than water and thus normally would not float. In order to incorporate floatation means and in a manner which does not generally add to the complexity of the structure or its manufacture, each annular shaped member 12 (and 14) incorporates four half spheres 26, which when joined provide four floatation cavaties 28. Handle 16, for ease and simplicity of construction, is generally open and thus hollow as will be noted at open end 30. This also facilitates winding a line 32 on reel 10 as the line can be initially partially secured by placing it in opening 30.

Reel 10 in itself provides an excellent line storage device which can be simply used by winding line on or off of it by hand and the reel conveniently stowed aboard a boat. However, it may also be incorporated in, as shown, a line storage, winding and unwinding assembly 34. In this instance, reel 10 is engaged by a pair of mating plates 36 and 38 which are contoured to positively support reel 10. Mating plates 36 and 38 are in turn held in place by rotary mounting plate 40 and crank 42. Rotary mounting plate 40 and plate 36 are attached to gether by rivets 43 extending through holes 44. Crank 42 and plate 38 are attached together by rivets 46 extending through holes 47. Thumb screws 49 connect through holes 50in rotary mounting plate 40, crank 42, and mounting plates 36 and 38. Wing nuts 51 or other locking connectors hold bolts 49 in a tightened condition.

An elongated frame 52 includes a pair of handles 53 and 54 extending from right angle bends at each end thereof. It provides support for a shaft 56 which in turn rotably supports mounting plate 40 and reel 10. Shaft 56, in the form of a bolt, extends through a rotably support bearing 58 in mounting plate 40. In turn, shaft 56 is secured and supported in mounting hole 60 of frame 52 by nut 62.

In use, winding assembly 34 may be conveniently operated in several positions. For example, one handle region may be placed upon a solid surface and the. other handle region gripped in one hand and crank 42 operated with the other hand to wind or unwind line on reel 10. Alternately, a very convenient and comfortable mode is to place one handle region on one knee, hold the other handle region in one hand and turn crank 42 with the other hand.

The invention provides a convenient and safe solution to the handling of small lines on a pleasure craft. It combines a minimum of structural elements which are economical to manufacture and to assemble. Operation is simple, and the invention enables alternate modes of use, permitting reel 10 to be used by itself or as a part of assembly 34 by simple assembly or disassembly involving disengaging thumb screws 49.

Accordingly, reel 10 may be used as a cartridge for a particular line. Typically, a pleasure craft would have one assembly 34 and two or more reels 10.

While the emphasis of this specification has been placed on use of the invention for marine lines, it has been found that it is equally advantageous when used for handling other types of line. For example, it also provides an improved means for storage and use of electrical cords. In such case, one end of a cord is threaded through the open passageway of the handle and pulled out to an equal length on each side. Then both ends of the lines are wound together on the reel. This enables any desired length from each end of the cord to be readily unwound and used without unwinding a whole length of cord.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for storing line comprising:

an annular member generally toroidal in shape comprising:

a pair of oppositely positioned side walls,

an opening extending around the periphery of said annular member and being defined by the region between the outer edges of said side walls, and

an inner bottom portion, whereby a line may be wound through said opening around and be supported by a said bottom portion;

a handle member extending diametrically between opposite portions of said bottom member and adapted to be gripped by a user, said annular member and said handle being rigidly formed together of two identical but oppositely positioned side members and said side members being rigidly attached together; and

at least one enclosed, air tight cavity comprising a portion of said device, each said air tight cavity comprising two joined cavities, one being in each of said side members, and said air tight cavities comprising means for floating said device.

2. A device for storing a line as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said air tight cavities positioned adjacent portions of said handle and said handle is hollow, providing a passageway between opposite sides of said annular member.

3. A device for storing line as set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle is generally circular in cross section.

4. A device for storing line comprising:

an annular member comprising:

a pair of oppositely positioned side walls,

an opening extending around the periphery of said annular member and being defined by the region between the outer edges of said side walls, and

an inner bottom portion, whereby a line may be wound through said opening around and be supported by a said bottom portion;

a handle member extending diametrically between opposite portions of said bottom member and adapted to be gripped by a user;

at least one enclosed airtight cavity comprising a portion of said device, said air tight cavity providing means for floating said device;

a generally elongated holding frame having supporting means for supporting said frame at at least one end;

a pair of holding plates adapted to engage opposite sides of the central portion of said annular member;

supporting means adapted to engage one side of said annular member, connecting to at least one of said holding plates and to rotatably support said holding plates, and thereby said annular member on a central portion of said holding frame about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of said holding frame; and

crank means adapted to engage the other side of said annular member and one of said holding plate and including means for rotating said annular member about said axis, whereby line may be wound or unwound on said device.

5. A device for storing line as set forth in claim 4 wherein a said supporting means of said frame comprises a right angle handle. 

1. A device for storing line comprising: an annular member generally toroidal in shape comprising: a pair of oppositely positioned side walls, an opening extending around the periphery of said annular member and being defined by the region between the outer edges of said side walls, and an inner bottom portion, whereby a line may be wound through said opening around and be supported by a said bottom portion; a handle member extending diametrically between opposite portions of said bottom member and adapted to be gripped by a user, said annular member and said handle being rigidly formed together of two identical but oppositely positioned side members and said side members being rigidly attached together; and at least one enclosed, air tight cavity comprising a portion of said device, each said air tight cavity comprising two joined cavities, one being in each of said side members, and said air tight cavities comprising means for floating said device.
 2. A device for storing a line as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said air tight cavities positioned adjacent portions of said handle and saId handle is hollow, providing a passageway between opposite sides of said annular member.
 3. A device for storing line as set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle is generally circular in cross section.
 4. A device for storing line comprising: an annular member comprising: a pair of oppositely positioned side walls, an opening extending around the periphery of said annular member and being defined by the region between the outer edges of said side walls, and an inner bottom portion, whereby a line may be wound through said opening around and be supported by a said bottom portion; a handle member extending diametrically between opposite portions of said bottom member and adapted to be gripped by a user; at least one enclosed air tight cavity comprising a portion of said device, said air tight cavity providing means for floating said device; a generally elongated holding frame having supporting means for supporting said frame at at least one end; a pair of holding plates adapted to engage opposite sides of the central portion of said annular member; supporting means adapted to engage one side of said annular member, connecting to at least one of said holding plates and to rotatably support said holding plates, and thereby said annular member on a central portion of said holding frame about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of said holding frame; and crank means adapted to engage the other side of said annular member and one of said holding plate and including means for rotating said annular member about said axis, whereby line may be wound or unwound on said device.
 5. A device for storing line as set forth in claim 4 wherein a said supporting means of said frame comprises a right angle handle. 